The twin shuttles danced majestically, never with the slightest loss of grace, and often within mere meters of catastrophic collision. Their hulls, painted in a striking swirl pattern of the traditional Advancement Day blue and orange, shone like polished gemstones with greater luster than nature can effect. The smooth, teardrop shape served also to draw the eye; the colors melted into one another yet retained a sharp contrast. Inside the lead shuttle, distinguished only by the slightly high...

That was when I surrendered. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time. Strapped to that cold, hard table, my physical resistance had worn out long ago. I still had the illusion, however, that I was fighting them. What force could possibly have persuaded me to submit to these beings I so despised…indeed considered anthropomorphized evil? It was the anguish of that tragic moment when so many lives — one hundred thirty-four, I later found out — were lost. At that momen...